DOUBTS RAISED OVER F.F. CUMAINN A.G.M.S

- O’Keeffe to rejoin party? -

A local Fianna Fail supporter, who wishes to remain anonymous, has claimed that recent Fianna Fail cumann meetings held in Fermoy and Mitchelstown may have been rendered null and void due to the participation of TD Ned O’Keeffe, who has attended cumann meetings despite his high profile resignation from the party.

Deputy O’Keeffe resigned from the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party (PP) last November following his refusal to toe the party line and support under-fire Health Minister Mary Harney. However, a letter from Sean Sherwin, national organiser of Fianna Fail suggests that the legitimacy of cumann annual general meetings (AGM) in Fermoy and Mitchelstown have been compromised by Deputy O’Keeffe’s involvement.

The letter explains, 'When a Parliamentary Party member resigns or is removed from membership of the Parliamentary Party such a person loses all rights and privileges which were enjoyed prior to the event'.

The letter then outlines several points relevant to Deputy O’Keeffe’s status with the party. It explains that:

• ‘Deputy O’Keeffe has lost the right to seek or accept invitations to attend any cumann of Fianna Fail “within East Cork or elsewhere in the organisation.” As a member of the Ballindangan Cumann, however, he continues to have the right to attend and participate in the activities of this cumann’;

• ‘As a result of his resignation from the PP he has lost membership of both Comhairle Dail Cheanntair and Comhairle Ceanntair. These are higher organisational bodies within the party’;

• ‘As he has resigned from the PP, Deputy O’Keeffe has lost the right to vote as a delegate at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis. He may attend as an observer, however’.

The anonymous party supporter claimed that, while several cumainn meetings in the area were suspended following Deputy O’Keeffe’s appearance, others went ahead despite his attendance, including the Fermoy and Mitchelstown cumainn AGMs.

“Are these AGMs now null and void and do not count?” the supporter asked in a letter to The Avondhu this week. The writer further claimed that local cumainn were made aware that Deputy O’Keeffe is not eligible to attend such party meetings.

Andy McGrath, newly elected secretary of the Fermoy Fianna Fail Cumann confirmed that Deputy O’Keeffe both attended and “participated” in last Monday’s AGM. A source also claimed that Deputy O’Keeffe participated in several Fermoy AGM activities, including selling tickets for a draw for cumann members.

Despite numerous attempts, The Avondhu was unable to extract any comment from the Mitchelstown Cumann of Fianna Fail. A spokesperson from the party’s headquarters in Dublin said that it was an internal party matter, and refused to comment further.

Attempts to reach Deputy O’Keeffe, who is reportedly seeking to rejoin the party having quit just over two months ago, proved unsuccessful. Reports late on Wednesday claimed the Cork East TD has written to Fianna Fail applying for readmission to the parliamentary party.

 

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